Lafferty (Laverty) Heraldry
I need some help with the Lafferty crest.One of the research tracks I'm on is to validate the heraldry (family crest) of the Lafferty family (a.k.a, Laverty, Laferty, O'Laverty, O'Lafferty, etc.).The family crest that I have hanging in my office was obtained from a commercial heraldry company and it depicts two lions holding a disembodied hand and a boat with eight oars.The "official" description of the crest is as follows:
"Argent, 2 lions rampant combatant supporting a dexter hand couped at the wrist all gules, in base a boat with 8 oars sable"
A depiction of the Lafferty crest as described above can be seen on this page: http://www.laverty.org/coat-of-arms-big.gifhttp://www.laverty.org/coat-of-arms-big.gif
However, I've learned that many of these commercial heraldry companies have gotten together to create and market crests for family names where no such historical emblem ever really existed.That's why I'm trying to validate the correct historical crest for "Lafferty" rather than merely assume that this is a legitimate crest.
My research has led me to quite a different crest than the one described above.The description is included in the following excerpt from an old book:
"The Irish Lafferty's are descendants from Hermon son of the King Milesius of Spain 2000 B.C..John Lafferty is descendant through Brian Labbertach King of Ireland in AD 350.The Lafferty crest is an Arm akimbo holding a fine tempered Toledo blade on whose point fixed through its tail is a venomous snake coiling itself around the blade and killing itself on its sharp double edges in its effort to strike this Lafferty hand.Moto engraved on their arms: (Shin) ODhia Gach an Cablai--Nec Timeo nec Sperno--Min Sicker Reag. (Oh God of all--I will neither fear nor despise --my enemy)(Translation by Lorenzo Dow Lafferty IV and Mary Lafferty Wilson)"
I'm wondering if anyone out in Lafferty Research Land has any information on the latter description, or any information that might help validate the first description (I'm looking for something other than the modern "Certificate of Authenticity" that the commercial companies are creating.)
Any help would be apprecaited.
Wally Lafferty
Virginia
More Replies:
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Re: Lafferty (Laverty) Heraldry
M. Lafferty 1/10/01
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Re: Lafferty (Laverty) Heraldry
vernlafferty lafferty 1/10/01